My Creative Space - Refashion: Men's Business Shirt to LIttle Man's Sunday Best

All through my teens and early twenties (when I had mum's sewing machine handy) I was always into refashioning garments. I remember with fondness walking out of a Trift store on countless occasions, bags in hand that would cost approximately $1 NZD each. Oh the Good Ole Days eh?

The best I can do nowadays is £3-£4 per second-hand item which is actually quite good buying yeah innit.

This week I splashed out and spent a few quid on some business shirts with the view of refashioning them into little guy shirts for my boys. I didn't have a pattern so just traced around an existing shirt for the sleeves, shirt front and shirt back and used the existing collar and cuffs (although I reduced them in size to fit).

And this is the result - a Sunday Best Shirt for Beni-Boo:

I wanted to photograph him modelling it but because of this...

...I was unable to fit his hand through the sleeve... oh well, I'm sure you can agree with me that it will look SUPER CUTE on him!

And now to make some ties and bow-ties to team up with the shirt - now THAT will be cute!!

Linking up with My Creative Space at kootoyoo here.

My Creative Space

Luca needed some tracksuit bottoms to wear when he got home from school as his other 2 pairs were in the washing pile, yet to be done...

And so emerged the Bruce Springsteen tracksuit bottoms refashioned from a Brucie tour t-shirt.

You may recall the Brucie tour t-shirt downsized to a top for Beni-Boo here - so here's the tracksuit bottoms version:

I'm not sure if I like them or not, but - you know Luca - he rocks them anyway (even with a "clashing" Lightning McQueen t-shirt on).
He thinks they're cool cos his mamma made them for him.
Bless his dear wee heart.

Joining in with My Creative Space at Kootoyoo

Italian Alphabet Quilt - Finito!

My first major project for 2011 is now finished and I'm feeling well chuffed - my first ever quilt!

I got a chocolate brown fleece from a Thrift store before Christmas which is snuggly but a bit boring, so I deciding to make it a bit more 'exciting' by attaching it to a patchwork quilt.
Much more exciting now.
And educating even as we can now learn our Italian.
Multi-purposing.
I like.

I'll put it on the bottom bunk in the boy's bedroom - this may inspire me to 'freshen up' their room a bit...?
I'll let you know!

Gems Of The Week

Precious, Priceless, Pockets of Happiness during my week.

I was supposed to have posted this last night but decided to watch a movie in bed with my husband instead. 
Unfortunately it wasn't the most romantic choice for a movie - The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.
Have read the books and loved them and am pleased I knew what was going to happen in the movie otherwise I wouldn't have lasted watching it!
So there's some advice for you - in this case, read the book first and then watch the movie, otherwise you might find it a bit hard to stomach.
Or maybe that's just because I'm pregnant and therefore extra sensitive to all things...?

Anyhoo, time for the good stuff - here's the "Gems" from my week.

:: On Wednesday we had our 20 week scan for Baby #3 and OH MY GOODNESS it was a very special moment in our week. 
We ended up having our two boys with us as it was a 'first-of-the-morning' appointment. I thought it was going to end in carnage having to bring our children along but it was actually an incredibly special time. 
Luca stood beside me during the scan chatting away about what was happening and asking questions while Beni was on Austin's knee pointing at the screen (with his middle finger of course) saying "Bubba! Bubba!" How does he know that?? Clever wee chap.
And once again baby #3 has a cute-as-a-cute-thing profile with a little button nose. We caught it sucking it's thumb. Awwwwww!
I tell you what, there is just as much excitement about baby #3 as there was for baby number 1 and 2. The novelty definitely doesn't wear off.

No we didn't find out the sex - we love the surprise at the end and it helps me get through labour when I think "I'm finally going to meet this little one and find out what it is!"


:: I finally admitted defeat and realised it was time to give Luca a haircut, good and proper.

Big Boy Luca has emerged from under all his hair and I'd forgotten how big his eyes are! So of course he's milking the 'Puppy-Eyed' look while I'm vulnerable...

:: Loving very muchly watching these pudgey little hands discover and conquer new things.

:: I've starting piecing together my first ever quilt and I'm pretty excited {and proud} about it! It features the Italian Alphabet and I've got good feelings it's actually going to look quite cool! {as in, I will put it on the bunk bed in the boys room instead of stowing it away in the cupboard...}

:: Can't get enough, can't get enough no of these boys of ours.

Every day they frustrate and amaze me.
Every day they cause me to feel both anger and happiness.
Every day I'm sure my love for them grows deeper as I watch them grow and interact with each other and love each other.
Every day I am amazed and incredibly thankful they are mine.

Hope you're having a happy weekend! X

Refashion: Tour T-Shirt to Rock-Chick Dress

Here's another idea for refashioning an old t-shirt that seemed to work. Turning an old tour/band t-shirt into a cute-yet-oozing-plenty-of-attitude little girl's dress.

I left the neckband and shoulder seams as from the original garment and then cut out the rest - this means that I only had to sew the sideseams and add the sleeves and ruffle at the bottom. Easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy.

The sleeves and ruffle trim were from another old t-shirt from which I cut off the bottom and sewed it onto the dress (saving on having to hem it) and the same for the sleeves using the existing sleeve edge.

The sleeves were meant to be puffed but they didn't end up having much 'puff' in them in the end...

Then to tie the purple in with the rest of the t-shirt I did a fancy stitch that my machine seems to know how to do around the neckline which also helped to 'pretty it up' a bit also.

And while I was at the sewing machine I quickly whipped up this little number for Beni because he didn't have any long-sleeve shirts to wear the next day... (he's growing out of his clothes rather rapidly!)

Once again I used the existing collar, buttons opening and shoulder seams and cut out the pattern around them, sewed down the sides, added some sleeves, hemmed the bottom using a stretch fabric stitch to allow for movement and FINITO!
It turned out pretty cool but it helps that the subject is super-duper CUTE and can make anything look good!

It's so satisfying making something new and fresh out of what was old and lifeless.

There could be a sermon in that.

Getting all Christmassy

Today was the day previously assigned for putting up the Christmas Tree and decorations.
Very exciting!

I have spent the past couple of weeks whipping up Christmas presents to send back to NZ by today, being the latest date for guaranteed delivery before Christmas.
Then my sewing machine broke down (SHAMBLES!)
But then my new one arrived within a couple of days even though I wasn't expecting it until about 5 days later (YIPPEE!!).
And can I just add here that my new machine is beautiful.
Simply stunning.
I almost cried when I did the first few stitches and it just purrrrrred along happily instead of noisily clunking at a very out of control speed.

I am one happy woman right now.

So of course I have been spending my days tucked in beside my new friend sewing, sewing and sewing.
Even though I've been sick I haven't passed up an opportunity for bonding (and also because the mailing deadline was rapidly approaching...)

Here's a wee sneak-peek at one of my creations now happily bundled up and on it's way to the Jacobsen Homestead.
(CHRISTMAS PRESENT SPOILER ALERT! Eph & Beks make sure Pearle looks away now).

Eph & Beks: If it happens that wee Pearle is not so wee and doesn't fit these let me know and I'll make another set and you can either:
a) Keep them for daughter number 3 
b) mail them back to me incase Bambino Numero Tre comes out as the girl variety
c) sell them on Trade Me

It's funny yet bizarre how, when I start 'getting my craft on' that I suddenly get all this inspiration for other crafty/handmade things for home improvement.

In the past 2 days - amongst sewing, coughing, blowing my nose and sleeping at every opportunity - I have:
- melted down the dregs of old candles and made new ones

 - made a wreath for our front door

- successfully passed my cough and cold onto Beni-Boo. He's currently coughing and wheezing in bed beside me, poor little dude.

But the highlight for today was putting up the Christmas Tree with the help of our two little munchkins who were ever-so-excited when they woke up from their afternoon nap to find a Christmas Tree with lights on it in our living room, waiting to be dressed with decorations.

Is it bad that I rearranged all the tree decorations after the boys had gone to bed??...

Although the tree is a bit sparse in the whole 'branches' area towards the top, it's still very cute and very happy warming up our lounge with the cosy glow and good feelings it brings.

And it's very excited about being the guardian of all our presents as they gradually start being added under it's branches for safe-keeping until Christmas Eve.

I like it - no, I love it that I have motivation this year to make an effort for Christmas. Unlike last year where I was in my 'just-given-birth-and-am-suffering-from-post-natal-depression-but-don't-know-it-yet' state.

I'm determined to do the best I can to help create the 'Magic Of Christmas' in our wee home for my children.

It's such an incredibly special time of year as a family.

It's such an incredibly important time to teach our boys the whole reason for Christmas.

My Sewing Vs Knitting Dilemma

Over the past few weeks I've had a bit of a dilemma.

I normally don't have a problem with my Knitting vs Sewing projects and very much enjoy doing both. I'm very very grateful that my mum and nana passed their 'crafty' knowledge on to me.

Our family has started a tradition (of late) where we only give either Handmade or Second-Hand gifts at Christmas time. This was started on a particular Christmas when we were all a bit low on cash and it has now become somewhat of a tradition.
It's a good one.
It gets you thinking well in advance (well, it's supposed to, but I always end up whipping something together at the last minute for my 10 family members...), especially when there's a deadline for getting parcels posted back to NZ in time...!

So on to my dilemma:

KNITTING
In the past few weeks I have been busy knitting a dear little dress for a newborn and unfortunately this project took me a little LOT longer than anticipated... I ended up using a good quantity of my time knitting this garment that I really should have been spending on making Christmas presents in time for the December 6th posting-to-NZ deadline...ARGH!!
But they are very dear friends of ours and babies grow so fast and I knew that if I had put the dress aside until after the Christmas-Present rush it would probably be too small for the wee one and then all my hours laboured in love would have been wasted. 

So I am pleased to report I finished the knitted dress in the weekend and it turned out ever-so-sweet

The main reason why it took me so long to finish was because I had to start it 56 times (...okay, maybe 5 times...) because I had to knit it on circular needles and, being a novice at knitting 'on the round', I kept on stuffing it up.
But it's all done now and I learnt some new techniques, even though it did eat up so much of my precious time.

VS

SEWING
Now that I have the above knitting project completed I can focus on the Christmas gifts for the NZ family.
Now here's the difference: I whipped this little puppy up while my boys took a nap yesterday afternoon.
(CHRISTMAS PRESENT SPOILER ALERT! Eph & Beks don't let Freja see this please...)

Yes mum I still have to tie the loose threads in...

So we're talking approx. 2 hours total labour (Sewing) vs approx. 48 hours total labour (Knitting).

It's a no-brainer really??

Only that just when I was starting sewing my next Christmas present project my sewing machine (which is really high quality crap) packed a sad and started breaking all my sewing machine needles.
And so I picked up it's cover and placed it over it's high-quality-crap body for the very last time and went and ordered a new one on Amazon.
The only problem is it won't be delivered until 8th December which is 2 days after the post to NZ deadline...!!

I could probably knit up a couple of scarves before then but it's summertime in NZ so that's not the best option!

So Mum, T and Bubble: I'm very sorry but your Christmas presents this year will now be delivered after Christmas... BUT they will be made on my new sewing machine so there won't be any missed stitches or problems with the bobbin thread bunching on your gifts!
If you have a problem with this, let me know and I'll knit you a scarf.

Getting my craft on

I have just come back from a marvellously long weekend away in Bremen, Germany WITHOUT THE CHILDREN!
It was marvellous.
I got to sleep in.
Austin and I travelled extremely stress-free - we actually got to do some reading on the flights which is quite unheard of!
But we did miss our wee men and we were all very excited to see one another upon waking this morning.

I've got a heap of photos to organise from the weekend so hopefully I'll be able to share our Bremen experience with y'all in the next couple of days - there's something to keep you on the edge of your seats!

But in the meantime I've been getting things organised, getting supplies, getting ready to "Craft It Up" in preparation for Christmas.

Well, that's my intention.
I've got a head-load full of ideas but am lacking the time and space required to get these done.
But I believe this will always be my complaint so I just need to knuckle down and get on with getting my craft on!

:::

On Thursday evening I whipped up a pair of these for Beni from a really ugly t-shirt Austin got from his work (apologies for the rather blurry photos of these, but hopefully you get the general gist of their design? The subject was not keen to stay still while I had to manually focus...)

They turned out to be a pretty chavtastic pair of sweatpants for little Beni-Boo. Having the drawstring waist was an ingenious idea as they stay firmly in place around his waist whilst he crawls around - unlike 98% of his other trousers that end up around his ankles...

Inspiration for these is from the very clever sisters at KojoDesigns found here.

As a result of family and friends having babies recently I've once again got numerous knitting projects on the go. It's unfortunate I couldn't take knitting needles on the plane with me over the weekend as I would've been able to finish at least one of these projects.

Oh well, I managed to devour my book which had been collecting dust on my bedside cabinet so the time definitely wasn't wasted.

And on that note, I need to get cracking on with some knitting followed closely by sleeping.

The Sewing Mojo

My sewing machine that, up until a few days ago, had been collecting dust in the corner of our bedroom is now sitting there feeling quite chuffed with itself. Over the past couple of days it has had the opportunity to blow out the cobwebs and reacquaint itself with fabric and thread.

I don't know why. I don't know how. But I believe I have got my Sewing Mojo back.

I have been itching to have the opportunity and time to settle myself down in front of my sewing machine and create something. Anything. But neither the opportunity nor the time has presented itself to me.

Until 2 days ago.

It was 2 days ago that I realised that I didn't have any more long-sleeve shirts for Beni to wear - they were all in the wash. All of them being a grand total of THREE...
The thought of going out and buying some more cheap long-sleeve shirts flitted across my mind, but then I remembered the "Tight-As-A-Tight-Thing" budget we are currently on and that idea quickly evaporated.

I was then struck by this brain-wave: "I can make Beni some tops!".

And so... I did.

I have recently discovered some very cool sewing/knitting blogs that I drool over as I read about their crafting endeavours. I have particularly been inspired by Dana at Made and decided to burn the midnight oil and give my sewing machine some love (and also because Beni needed something to wear the next day!...)

So I rummaged through Austin's t-shirt drawer (bitterly regretting recently making him throw away all the old t-shirts he hadn't worn in years) and I found a few t-shirts that I knew he wouldn't mind me cutting up...

Out came the pen and paper to draw up a pattern.
Out came the scissors - Bruce Springstein has had a face-lift...

From this

 To this.

And I was so pleased with the result that I made another one last night.
I'm feeling well chuffed I am!

What I love about sewing is that you can start and finish a project all within the space of a couple of hours (generally) whereas a knitting project takes... well, a bit longer... (I still haven't finished Luca's winter jersey I was making for him last year!...)

Austin came home today with a small pile of Tour t-shirts that he had lying around in his office. So look out family - it's a Thrifty Christmas again this year and I have just discovered a new hobby - refashioning old t-shirts!

Watch this space.